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Abstract:

A process for depositing an annular reinforcing element on an annular
anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels. The annular anchoring
structure includes at least one substantially circumferential annular
insert with which at least one filling insert is associated. The process
includes the steps of: loading the annular anchoring structure onto a
service platform; associating the annular reinforcing element with an
annular portion of a side surface of the filling insert in a radially
outer position with respect to the substantially circumferential annular
insert, so as to form a reinforced annular anchoring structure; and
unloading the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service
platform. The reinforced anchoring structure thus obtained can be used in
building a carcass structure in the manufacturing of tyres for vehicles.

Claims:

1-28. (canceled)

29. A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising
building a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply
associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with respective
annular anchoring structures, each annular anchoring structure comprising
at least one substantially circumferential annular insert and at least
one filling insert associated with the substantially circumferential
annular insert; wherein building the carcass structure comprises
providing at least one annular reinforcing element between at least one
annular portion of a side surface of the filling insert of at least one
annular anchoring structure and a respective end edge of the carcass ply;
wherein providing said at least one annular reinforcing element
comprises: loading the annular anchoring structure onto a service
platform; associating the annular reinforcing element with the annular
portion of the side surface of the filling insert in a radially outer
position with respect to said substantially circumferential annular
insert, so as to form a reinforced annular anchoring structure; unloading
the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service platform; and
positioning the reinforced annular anchoring structure on the end edge of
the carcass ply.

30. The process according to claim 29, wherein, before positioning the
reinforced annular anchoring structure on the end edge of the carcass
ply, the steps of: loading the annular anchoring structure onto the
service platform; associating the annular reinforcing element with the
annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert; and unloading
the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service platform; are
repeated for a preset number of times to form a corresponding preset
number of reinforced annular anchoring structures.

31. The process according to claim 29, wherein associating the annular
reinforcing element with the annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert is carried out at least in part simultaneously with at
least part of at least one of loading a different annular anchoring
structure onto the service platform and unloading a different reinforced
annular anchoring structure from the service platform.

32. The process according to claim 29, wherein loading the annular
anchoring structure onto the service platform comprises: taking the
annular anchoring structure from a first storage member; moving the
annular anchoring structure from the first storage member to the service
platform.

33. The process according to claim 32, wherein unloading the reinforced
annular anchoring structure from the service platform comprises: taking
the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service platform; and
moving the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service
platform to a second storage member.

34. A process for depositing an annular reinforcing element onto an
annular anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels, the annular
anchoring structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential
annular insert and at least one filling insert associated with the
substantially circumferential annular insert, comprising: loading the
annular anchoring structure onto a service platform; associating said
annular reinforcing element with an annular portion of a side surface of
the filling insert in a radially outer position with respect to said
substantially circumferential annular insert, so as to form a reinforced
annular anchoring structure; and unloading the reinforced annular
anchoring structure from the service platform.

35. The process according to claim 34, wherein loading the annular
anchoring structure onto the service platform comprises: positioning the
annular anchoring structure onto the service platform; centering the
annular anchoring structure with respect to a rotational axis of the
service platform; and locking the annular anchoring structure onto the
service platform in a centered position.

36. The process according to claim 35, wherein associating the annular
reinforcing element with the annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert comprises: feeding a band-like reinforced element toward
said annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert;
associating a head portion of the band-like reinforced element with an
angular portion of said annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert; rotating the service platform by a preset angle
(-.alpha.) around said rotational axis; during rotating the service
platform, associating new portions of the band-like reinforced element
with corresponding angular portions of said annular portion of the side
surface of the filling insert; and associating a tail portion of the
band-like reinforced element with an angular portion of said annular
portion of the side surface of the filling insert.

37. The process according to claim 36, wherein, after associating a head
portion of the band-like reinforced element with an angular portion of
said annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert: rotating
the service platform around said rotational axis of a first angle greater
than 270.degree. and smaller than 360.degree.; during rotating the
service platform, associating new portions of the band-like reinforced
element with corresponding angular portions of said annular portion of
the side surface of the filling insert; cutting to size the band-like
reinforced element, thus obtaining a piece of band-like reinforced
element having a tail portion; rotating the service platform by an angle
at least equal to 360.degree.-.alpha. around said rotational axis; and
during rotating the service platform by at least 360.degree.-.alpha.,
associating the tail portion of said piece of band-like reinforced
element to said angular portion of said annular portion of the side
surface of the filling insert.

38. The process according to claim 36, wherein said preset angle is equal
to at least 360.degree. and wherein the band-like reinforced element is
cut to size before being fed toward said annular portion of the side
surface of the filling insert.

39. The process according to claim 36, further comprising joining the
tail portion of the band-like reinforced element to the head portion of
the band-like reinforced element by overlapping at least part of said
tail portion to at least part of said head portion.

40. The process according to claim 36, wherein feeding the band-like
reinforced element toward said annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert comprises guiding the band-like reinforced element toward
the service platform along a feeding direction which is tilted by a
preset angle with respect to the service platform and which belongs to a
plane perpendicular to a pointing plane containing the rotational axis of
the service platform.

41. The process according to claim 40, wherein the band-like reinforced
element is moved toward the service platform to bring a free end of the
head portion of the band-like reinforced element to a section of the
service platform defined by the intersection of said feeding direction
with said pointing plane.

42. The process according to claim 36, wherein the head portion of the
band-like reinforced element is obtained by cutting the band-like
reinforced element with a preset cutting angle, to form a head vertex at
an inner side surface of the band-like reinforced element.

43. The process according to claim 36, wherein the annular reinforcing
element is associated cantilevered with a radially external annular
portion of the side surface of the filling insert.

44. The process according to claim 36, wherein, during feeding the
band-like reinforced element toward said annular portion of the side
surface of the filling insert, associating an element made of elastomer
material on an outer side surface of the band-like reinforced element.

45. The process according to claim 44, wherein said element made of
elastomer material is arranged astride the outer side surface of the
band-like reinforced element.

46. The process according to claim 44, wherein said element made of
elastomer material is associated cantilevered with the outer side surface
of the band-like reinforced element.

47. An apparatus for depositing an annular reinforcing element onto an
annular anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels, the annular
anchoring structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential
annular insert and at least one filling insert associated with the
substantially circumferential annular insert, comprising: a service
platform having an operative surface capable of being adapted to receive
said annular anchoring structure; a device for loading/unloading the
annular anchoring structure onto/from the service platform; a device for
feeding a band-like reinforced element toward the service platform; a
member for cutting to size the band-like reinforced element; and a device
for depositing the band-like reinforced element onto the annular
anchoring structure; wherein the device for feeding the band-like
reinforced element comprises an outlet portion oriented toward said
operative surface of the service platform so as to associate an annular
reinforcing element with an annular portion of a side surface of the
filling insert in a radially outer position with respect to said
substantially circumferential annular insert, so as to form a reinforced
annular anchoring structure.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the service platform is
rotatable around a rotational axis.

49. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the device for
loading/unloading the annular anchoring structure onto/from the service
platform comprises at least one motorised arm for catching and moving the
annular anchoring element.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the device for
loading/unloading the annular anchoring structure onto/from the service
platform comprises two motorised arms for catching and moving the annular
anchoring structure, a first arm to load the annular anchoring structure
onto the service platform and a second arm to unload the reinforced
annular anchoring structure from the service platform.

51. The apparatus according to claim 47, comprising, at the outlet
portion of the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element, a
pair of opposite side containment guides.

52. The apparatus according to claim 47, comprising, at the outlet
portion of the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element and
between said cutting member and the service platform, a U-shaped guide
for a tail portion of the band-like reinforced element.

53. The apparatus according claim 47, wherein said cutting member is
arranged at the outlet portion of the device for feeding the band-like
reinforced element and comprises a disc-shaped blade, a support structure
for the blade and an abutment body of the blade arranged in the outlet
portion of the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element on an
opposite side to the blade with respect to a feeding plane of the
band-like reinforced element.

54. The apparatus according claim 47, wherein the device for depositing
the band-like reinforced element comprises at least one depositing roller
having a rotational axis parallel to the service platform, said at least
one roller being moveable along a direction perpendicular to the service
platform.

55. The apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a member for
depositing an element made of elastomer material onto a side surface of
the band-like reinforced element.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said depositing member
comprises a plurality of rollers arranged one after the other along a
movement direction of the band-like reinforced element for depositing
said element made of elastomer material astride the side surface of the
band-like reinforced element, wherein at least some of the respective
rotational axes of said rollers are askew with respect to each other.

Description:

[0001] The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing tyres
for vehicle wheels.

[0002] The invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for
depositing an annular reinforcing element on an annular anchoring
structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels, said process and said apparatus
being able to be used in carrying out the aforementioned process for
manufacturing the tyre.

[0003] A tyre for vehicle wheels generally comprises a carcass structure
comprising at least one carcass ply formed of reinforcing cords
incorporated in an elastomer matrix. The carcass ply has end edges
respectively engaged with annular anchoring structures arranged in the
zones usually identified with the name of "beads" and normally consisting
each of a substantially circumferential annular insert on which at least
one filling insert is applied, in a radially outer position thereof. Such
annular inserts are commonly identified as "bead cores" and have the task
of keeping the tyre firmly fixed to the anchoring seat specifically
provided in the rim of the wheel, thus preventing, in operation, the
radially inner end edge of the tyre coming out from such a seat.

[0004] At the beads specific reinforcing structures may be provided having
the function of improving the torque transmission to the tyre. The region
of the bead, indeed, is particularly active in the torque transmission
from the rim to the tyre in acceleration and braking, and therefore the
provision of appropriate reinforcing structures in such an area ensures
that the torque transmission occurs with the maximum possible reactivity.

[0005] In a radially outer position with respect to the carcass ply, a
belt structure comprising one or more belt layers is associated, said
belt layers being arranged radially one on top of the other and having
textile or metal reinforcing cords with crossed orientation and/or an
orientation substantially parallel to the direction of circumferential
extension of the tyre.

[0006] Between the carcass structure and the belt structure a layer of
elastomeric material, known as "under-belt", can be provided, said layer
having the function of making the radially outer surface of the carcass
structure as uniform as possible for the subsequent application of the
belt structure.

[0007] In a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure a
tread band is applied, also made from elastomeric material as well as
other structural elements making up the tyre.

[0008] Between the tread band and the belt structure a so-called
"under-layer" of elastomeric material can be arranged, said layer having
properties suitable to ensure a steady union of the tread band itself.

[0009] On the side surfaces of the carcass structure respective sidewalls
of elastomeric material are also applied, each extending from one of the
side edges of the tread band up to the respective annular anchoring
structure to the beads.

[0010] The traditional processes for manufacturing tyres for vehicle
wheels essentially provide for the components of the tyre listed above to
be first made separately from one another, to be then assembled in a
subsequent building step of the tyre.

[0011] However, the current tendency is that of using manufacturing
processes that allow the manufacturing and storage of semi-finished parts
to be minimised or possibly eliminated. In such processes, each component
of the tyre is directly formed on a forming support, for example as
illustrated in EP 0 928 680 in the name of the same Applicant.

[0012] More specifically, attention has now turned towards process
solutions that allow the individual components of the tyre to be made by
directly applying them, according to a predetermined sequence, onto the
tyre being built on a forming support, typically toroidal or cylindrical.

[0013] Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims,
the term "annular reinforcing element" is used to indicate an element
comprising one or more thread-like reinforcing elements that are
substantially parallel to one another, such as textile or metallic cords,
optionally incorporated in, or coated with, a layer of elastomer
material, such an element being cut to size by a band-like element to
form a head portion and a tail portion intended to be joined together.

[0014] The term "elastomer material", on the other hand, is used to
indicate a composition comprising at least one elastomer polymer and at
least one reinforcing filler. Preferably, such a composition also
comprises additives like, for example, a cross-linking agent and/or a
plasticizer. Thanks to the provision of the cross-linking agent, such a
material can be cross-linked through heating, so as to make the end
product.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,358 describes a process and an apparatus for
depositing an annular reinforcing element on the radially inner surface
and on a radially inner portion of the side surfaces of the substantially
circumferential annular insert of an annular anchoring structure. The
apparatus comprises, in the central portion thereof, a rotating platform
provided with four arms extending radially at 90° one from the
other and having, at the respective free end portions, respective drums
for locking the annular anchoring structure. The apparatus further
comprises four service stations arranged around the aforementioned
rotating platform. In a first service station, the substantially
circumferential annular insert of the annular anchoring structure is
loaded onto one of the aforementioned blocking drums of the annular
anchoring structure. In a second service station, the filling insert is
applied onto the substantially circumferential annular insert of the
annular anchoring structure. In a third service station, the annular
reinforcing element is applied onto the substantially circumferential
annular insert of the annular anchoring structure already provided with
the filling insert. In a fourth service station, the annular anchoring
structure thus reinforced is unloaded from the apparatus. The deposition
of the annular reinforcing element onto the substantially circumferential
annular insert of the annular anchoring structure takes place through
inflation of suitable air chambers that turn the annular reinforcing
element on the radially inner surface and on the side surfaces of the
substantially circumferential annular insert.

[0016] The Applicant has focussed its attention on tyres wherein the
annular reinforcing element is arranged between the filling insert of the
annular anchoring structure and the end edge of the carcass ply. Such an
annular reinforcing element is typically indicated, in the field of
tyres, with the term "chafer". This term will often be used also in the
rest of the present description.

[0017] The Applicant has observed that the deposition of such an annular
reinforcing element is typically carried out, during the building of the
carcass structure of the tyre on the forming support, before positioning
the annular anchoring structure on the end edge of the carcass ply. In
particular, the annular reinforcing element is obtained by cutting to
size a band-like reinforced element previously collected into a
specifically provided reel. After cutting, the annular reinforcing
element is deposited flat, manually or automatically, on the end edge of
the carcass ply previously deposited on a cylindrical forming support.

[0018] In a traditional process of the type described above, once the
annular reinforcing element has been deposited on the end edge of the
carcass ply, it must be pulled down together with the end edge of the
carcass ply to allow the annular anchoring structure to be positioned.

[0019] The Applicant has observed that during the pulling down operation
of the end edge of the carcass ply the annular reinforcing element is
subjected to a deformation due to the change of the diameter. Due to the
lack of complete adhesion of the annular reinforcing element on the
carcass ply, the aforementioned deformation causes the formation on the
annular reinforcing element of creases and/or wrinkles that, in the built
tyre, constitute manufacturing defects.

[0020] The Applicant has also observed that, in conventional processes
wherein the steps of loading/unloading the annular reinforcing element
onto/from the end edge of the carcass ply are carried out manually, the
probable presence of metallic and/or textile cords projecting from the
side surfaces of the annular reinforcing element can make such an element
difficult to handle, involving risks of cutting for the workers.

[0021] The Applicant has also noted that, being necessary to provide a
specific step of depositing the annular reinforcing element after the
deposition of the carcass ply on the forming support and before the
positioning of the annular anchoring structure, there is an overall
increase in the building time of the carcass structure, as well as an
increase in the initial setting time of the building machine. Moreover,
there is a reduction in the overall production yield of the building
machine, due to the need to periodically interrupt the building process
of the carcass structure in order to replace the reel on which the
band-like reinforced element is collected.

[0022] The Applicant has also observed that a process of the type
described above requires a large initial investment to prepare, in the
machine for building the carcass structure, all of the members and
devices necessary to make and deposit the annular reinforcing element.
Such a large investment seems unjustified to the Applicant particularly
if it is considered that the deposition of the annular reinforcing
element is only carried out for specific fitting and specific types of
tyres.

[0023] The Applicant has verified that, by associating the annular
reinforcing element directly to the filling insert of the annular
anchoring structure, and thus positioning on the end edge of the carcass
ply an annular anchoring structure provided with the annular reinforcing
element, possible handling problems of the annular reinforcing element
are avoided and, above all, there is no risk of generating undesired
creases and/or wrinkles on the annular reinforcing element. Indeed, in
such a case, the annular reinforcing element is not positioned on the end
edge of the carcass ply before pulling down it for the positioning of the
annular anchoring structure, but the annular reinforcing element is
associated directly to the filling insert of the annular anchoring
structure. Therefore, the annular reinforcing element no longer has to be
pulled down together with the end edge of the carcass ply to allow the
positioning of the annular anchoring structure. It follows that the
annular reinforcing element, once positioned on the end edge of the
carcass ply together with the annular anchoring structure, will maintain
the shape and the position set at the design stage, to the great benefit
of the quality of the tyre that will be manufactured.

[0024] More specifically, the Applicant has found that, by depositing the
annular reinforcing element on the filling insert of the annular
anchoring structure through a process that preferably is off-line with
respect to the process for building the carcass structure and comprising
the steps of: [0025] loading the annular anchoring structure, already
provided with the filling insert, onto a service platform; [0026]
associating the annular reinforcing element to an annular portion of the
side surface of the filling insert; [0027] unloading the annular
anchoring structure thus reinforced from the service platform; it is
possible to manufacture an annular anchoring structure, preferably a
plurality thereof, provided with an annular reinforcing element at the
filling insert. The use of such an annular anchoring structure in the
process for building the carcass structure thus allows a tyre to be
obtained that is substantially without defects at the bead.

[0028] The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect thereof,
to a process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising the
step of building a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply
associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, to respective annular
anchoring structures, each annular anchoring structure comprising at
least one substantially circumferential annular insert and at least one
filling insert associated to the substantially circumferential annular
insert;

[0029] wherein the step of building the carcass structure comprises the
step of providing at least one annular reinforcing element between at
least one annular portion of a side surface of the filling insert of at
least one annular anchoring structure and the respective end edge of the
carcass ply;

[0030] wherein the step of providing said at least one annular reinforcing
element comprises the steps of: [0031] loading the annular anchoring
structure onto a service platform; [0032] associating the annular
reinforcing element to the annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert in a radially outer position with respect to said
substantially circumferential annular insert, so as to form a reinforced
annular anchoring structure; [0033] unloading the reinforced annular
anchoring structure from the service platform; [0034] positioning the
reinforced annular anchoring structure on the end edge of the carcass
ply.

[0035] Advantageously, the Applicant believes that, by the process
described above, high-quality tyres can be manufactured, wherein the
annular reinforcement elements to be provided at the beads of the tyre,
once associated to the annular anchoring structure, maintain the shape
and position set at the design stage.

[0036] The Applicant also believes that, with reference to the traditional
processes for building the carcass structure, the process of the present
invention allows an advantageous reduction in the building time of the
carcass structure and in the initial setting time of the machine for
building the carcass structure itself to be achieved. This is due to the
fact that the positioning of the annular reinforcing element on the end
edge of the carcass ply takes place simultaneously with the positioning
of the annular anchoring structure.

[0037] The Applicant also observes that the process of the present
invention allows an increased overall production yield of the machine for
building the carcass structure to be obtained. Indeed, the deposition of
the annular reinforcing element on the annular anchoring structure can be
carried out before starting the process for building the carcass
structure and, therefore, it does not interfere with the process for
building the carcass structure itself. This also implies that the initial
investment is very low compared to what is necessary to prepare
conventional machines for building the carcass structure, in which all of
the devices necessary for making and depositing the annular reinforcing
element must be provided.

[0038] In a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a
process for depositing an annular reinforcing element onto an annular
anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels, the annular anchoring
structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential annular
insert and at least one filling insert associated to the substantially
circumferential annular insert, the process comprising the steps of:
[0039] loading the annular anchoring structure onto a service platform;
[0040] associating said annular reinforcing element with an annular
portion of a side surface of the filling insert in a radially outer
position with respect to said substantially circumferential annular
insert, so as to form a reinforced annular anchoring structure; [0041]
unloading the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service
platform.

[0042] Advantageously, such a process can be used in the process for
manufacturing the tyre described above, therefore allowing the
advantageous results mentioned above to be achieved.

[0043] In a third aspect thereof, the present invention relates to an
apparatus for depositing an annular reinforcing element onto an annular
anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels, the annular anchoring
structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential annular
insert and at least one filling insert associated to the substantially
circumferential annular insert, the apparatus comprising: [0044] a
service platform having an operative surface adapted to receive said
annular anchoring structure; [0045] a device for loading/unloading the
annular anchoring structure onto/from the service platform; [0046] a
device for feeding a band-like reinforced element towards the service
platform; [0047] a member for cutting to size the band-like reinforced
element; [0048] a device for depositing the band-like reinforced element
onto the annular anchoring structure;

[0049] wherein the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element
comprises an outlet portion oriented towards said operative surface of
the service platform so as to associate an annular reinforcing element to
an annular portion of a side surface of the filling insert in a radially
outer position with respect to said substantially circumferential annular
insert, so as to form a reinforced annular anchoring structure.

[0050] Advantageously, such an apparatus can be used in carrying out the
processes discussed above, therefore allowing the advantageous results
mentioned above to be achieved.

[0051] The present invention, in at least one of the aforementioned
aspects, can comprise at least one of the following preferred features,
taken individually or in combination with the others.

[0052] Preferably, before the positioning of the reinforced annular
anchoring structure on the end edge of the carcass ply, the
aforementioned steps of: [0053] loading the annular anchoring structure
onto the service platform; [0054] associating the annular reinforcing
element with the annular portion of side surface of the filling insert;
and [0055] unloading the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the
service platform;

[0056] are repeated for a preset number of times to form a corresponding
preset number of reinforced annular anchoring structures.

[0057] It is thus possible to prepare a corresponding plurality of
reinforced annular anchoring structures from a plurality of annular
anchoring structures. The reinforced annular anchoring structures can be
collected in suitable storage members from which they can then be taken,
during the building of a carcass structure of one or more tyres, in order
to be positioned on the end edge of a carcass ply previously deposited on
a forming support.

[0058] Preferably, the step of associating the annular reinforcing element
with the annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert is
carried out at least in part simultaneously with at least part of at
least one between the steps of loading a different annular anchoring
structure onto the service platform and unloading a different reinforced
annular anchoring structure from the service platform.

[0059] This advantageously allows the deposition of the annular
reinforcing element to be carried out on an annular anchoring structure
while a new annular anchoring structure is loaded and/or while an annular
anchoring structure that has just been reinforced is unloaded. In
practice, in this way a new annular anchoring structure is immediately
available right after the removal from the service platform of the one
that has just been reinforced.

[0060] Preferably, the step of loading the annular anchoring structure
onto the service platform comprises the steps of: [0061] taking the
annular anchoring structure from a first storage member; [0062] moving
the annular anchoring structure from the first storage member to the
service platform.

[0063] Even more preferably, the step of unloading the reinforced annular
anchoring structure from the service platform comprises the steps of:
[0064] taking the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service
platform; [0065] moving the reinforced annular anchoring structure from
the service platform to a second storage member.

[0066] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the service
platform is able to rotate around a rotational axis. Such a platform
preferably comprises a circular-shaped operative surface, such an
operative surface being intended to receive the annular anchoring
structure in order to carry out then the deposition of the annular
reinforcing element on the filling insert of the annular anchoring
structure.

[0067] Preferably, the step of loading the annular anchoring structure
onto the service platform comprises the steps of: [0068] positioning
the annular anchoring structure onto the service platform; [0069]
centring the annular anchoring structure with respect to the rotational
axis of the service platform; [0070] locking the annular anchoring
structure onto the service platform in a centred position.

[0071] Advantageously, the annular anchoring structure is thus stably
positioned onto the service platform in a coaxial and centred position,
guaranteeing the precision of positioning of the annular reinforcing
element subsequently deposited, which will also be arranged in a coaxial
and centred position with respect to the filling insert of the annular
anchoring structure, as provided in the design stage.

[0072] In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the
step of associating the annular reinforcing element with the annular
portion of the side surface of the filling insert comprises the steps of:
[0073] feeding a band-like reinforced element towards said annular
portion of the side surface of the filling insert; [0074] associating a
head portion of the band-like reinforced element with an angular portion
of said annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert; [0075]
rotating the service platform by a preset angle around said rotational
axis; [0076] during the aforementioned rotation, associating new portions
of the band-like reinforced element with corresponding angular portions
of said annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert; [0077]
associating a tail portion of the band-like reinforced element with an
angular portion of said annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert.

[0078] Preferably, after a head portion of the band-like reinforced
element has been associated to an angular portion of said annular portion
of the side surface of the filling insert, the following steps are
carried out: [0079] rotating the service platform around said
rotational axis by a first angle α greater than 270° and
smaller than 360°; [0080] during the aforementioned rotation,
associating new portions of the band-like reinforced element with
corresponding angular portions of said annular portion of the side
surface of the filling insert; [0081] cutting to size the band-like
reinforced element thus obtaining a piece of band-like reinforced element
having a tail portion; [0082] rotating the service platform by an angle
at least equal to 360°-α around said rotational axis; [0083]
during said rotation by at least 360°-α, associating the
tail portion of said piece of band-like reinforced element with said
angular portion of said annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert.

[0084] In this case, the cutting of the band-like reinforced element is an
integral part of the process for depositing the band-like reinforced
element onto the filling insert of the annular anchoring structure and it
takes place before the service platform completes a turn.

[0085] Alternatively, the band-like reinforced element is cut to size
before being fed towards said annular portion of the side surface of the
filling insert; in this case, the service platform is made to rotate by
an angle equal to at least 360°.

[0086] Preferably, the process of the present invention further comprises
the step of joining the tail portion of the band-like reinforced element
to the head portion of the band-like reinforced element by overlapping at
least part of said tail portion with at least part of said head portion.
Advantageously, in this way the deposition of the band-like reinforced
element onto the filling insert of the annular anchoring structure is
completed, thus obtaining an annular reinforcing element associated to
the aforementioned filling insert at the end of the aforementioned
joining step.

[0087] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the step of
feeding the band-like reinforced element towards said annular portion of
the side surface of the filling insert comprises the step of guiding the
band-like reinforced element towards the service platform along a feeding
direction which is tilted by a preset angle with respect to the service
platform and which belongs to a plane perpendicular to a pointing plane
containing the rotational axis of the service platform.

[0088] Preferably, the band-like reinforced element is moved towards the
service platform up to bring a free end of the head portion of the
band-like reinforced element to a section of the service platform defined
by the intersection of said feeding direction with said pointing plane.

[0089] The Applicant has found that by operating as described above a
homogeneous and uniform deposition of the band-like reinforced element on
the filling insert of the annular anchoring structure is obtained, thus
avoiding the risk of forming undesired creases and/or wrinkles.

[0090] Preferably, the head portion of the band-like reinforced element is
obtained by cutting the band-like reinforced element with a preset
cutting angle, to form a head vertex at an inner side surface of the
band-like reinforced element.

[0091] Advantageously, such a vertex identifies the aforementioned free
end of the head portion of the band-like reinforced element that must be
brought to the aforementioned section of the service platform.

[0092] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the annular
reinforcing element is associated cantilevered to a radially external
annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert. However,
alternative embodiments are provided in which the annular reinforcing
element is associated to all or part of the side surface of the filling
insert without projecting cantilevered. In any case, the annular
reinforcing element is deposited on the side surface of the filling
insert in a radially outer position with respect to the substantially
circumferential annular insert of the annular anchoring structure. In
other words, the annular reinforcing element is deposited only on the
side surface of the filling insert, thus without extending also on the
side surface of the substantially circumferential annular insert of the
annular anchoring structure.

[0093] Preferably, during the feeding of the band-like reinforced element
towards said annular portion of the side surface of the filling insert,
the step of associating an element made of elastomer material on an outer
side surface of the band-like reinforced element is carried out.

[0094] Advantageously, the provision of an element made of elastomer
material on the outer side surface of the band-like reinforced element
makes it easier for a worker to possibly manually grip the reinforced
annular anchoring structure at the radially most outer portion thereof.
Indeed, such an element made of elastomer material substantially covers
possible metallic or textile cords projecting from the radially outer
side surface of the annular reinforcing element, preventing these cords
from being able to cause cuts or wounds to the worker.

[0095] Even more advantageously, the aforementioned element made of
elastomer material carries out the same functions as the element made of
elastomer material, also known as intermediate strip, which is typically
deposited between the annular reinforcing element and the carcass ply in
a step of the process for building the carcass structure after the step
of positioning the annular anchoring structure on the end edge of the
carcass ply. The provision in the process of the present invention of the
aforementioned element made of elastomer material associated to the
annular reinforcing element thus no longer makes it necessary to deposit
the intermediate strip.

[0096] This implies, first of all, an increase in the overall production
yield of the machine for building the carcass structure, the
aforementioned increase being obtained due to the fact that the provision
of the element made of elastomer material between the annular anchoring
structure and the carcass ply no longer takes place during the process
for building the carcass structure, but it takes place in an off-line
process that does not interfere with the aforementioned building process.
Moreover, there is an advantageous reduction in the initial investment
costs, such a reduction being obtained due to the fact that it is no
longer necessary to provide, in the building line of the carcass
structure, those devices that are typically required in conventional
processes for depositing the intermediate strip.

[0097] Preferably, the aforementioned element made of elastomer material
is arranged astride the outer side surface of the band-like reinforced
element. However, embodiments of the present invention are provided in
which the element made of elastomer material is associated cantilevered
to the outer side surface of the band-like reinforced element.

[0098] According to a preferred embodiment, the service platform is able
to rotate around a rotational axis.

[0099] Preferably, a device for centring the annular anchoring structure
on the service platform is provided.

[0100] More preferably, the service platform comprises a plurality of
slots equally spaced in the circumferential direction and oriented
radially with respect to the rotational axis of the platform itself. The
aforementioned centring device in this case comprises a plurality of arms
that cross the service platform from one side to the other, each at a
respective slot, such arms being able to be moved radially in a
synchronous manner in the respective slots.

[0101] Even more preferably, each arm comprises a conical surface portion
facing the upper surface of the service platform. Advantageously, such a
conical surface ensures complete contact between annular anchoring
structure and service platform during the centring of the annular
anchoring structure, ensuring subsequent locking.

[0102] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device
for loading/unloading the annular anchoring structure onto/from the
service platform comprises at least one motorised arm for catching and
moving the annular anchoring element.

[0103] Preferably, there are two motorised arms for catching and moving
the annular anchoring structure, a first arm being intended to load the
annular anchoring structure onto the service platform and a second arm
being intended to unload the reinforced annular anchoring structure from
the service platform. In this way it is possible to obtain a partial
overlapping of the steps of loading the annular anchoring structure onto
the service platform and of unloading the reinforced annular anchoring
structure from the service platform.

[0104] Preferably, each motorised arm comprises a member for catching the
annular anchoring structure. More preferably, said catching member also
carries out a centring of the annular anchoring structure.

[0105] The catching member preferably comprises a plurality of centring
elements equally spaced in the circumferential direction and able to be
moved, in a synchronous manner, radially with respect to a central axis.

[0106] Preferably, a first storage member of annular anchoring structures
to be loaded onto the service platform and a second storage member of
reinforced annular anchoring structures unloaded from the service
platform are also provided.

[0107] The aforementioned storage members preferably form part of a moving
line arranged in a position adjacent to the service platform. More
preferably, the aforementioned line further comprises a third storage
member of annular anchoring structures to be loaded onto the service
platform, said third storage member being arranged in the moving line
upstream the first storage member, in order to guarantee a continuity of
production.

[0108] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the outlet
portion of the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element
extends along a feeding direction that is tilted by a preset angle with
respect to the service platform and that belongs to a plane perpendicular
to a pointing plane containing the rotational axis of the service
platform.

[0109] Preferably, the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element
can be moved along a direction parallel to said pointing plane.
Advantageously, such movement allows the position of the feeding device
to be adjusted with respect to the service platform as the diameter of
the annular anchoring structures on which the annular reinforcing element
must be deposited varies.

[0110] Preferably, the outlet portion of the device for feeding the
band-like reinforced element comprises a plurality of rollers arranged
with axes perpendicular to said feeding direction, so as to define a
surface for supporting the band-like reinforced element.

[0111] The apparatus of the present invention further comprises,
preferably, a device for catching and moving a head portion of the
band-like reinforced element along a feeding plane parallel to said
feeding direction.

[0112] Preferably, the catching and moving device comprises an
electromagnet or suction cup/intake device which can be moved parallel to
said feeding plane. When the annular reinforcing element comprises
metallic cords, any of the aforementioned devices can be used; on the
other hand, when the annular reinforcing element comprises textile cords,
the suction cup/intake device is used.

[0113] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, at the outlet
portion of the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element, a
pair of opposite side containment guides are provided. Advantageously,
such guides ensure that the desired radial position of the band-like
reinforced element on the side surface of the filling insert of the
annular anchoring structure loaded onto the service platform is
maintained.

[0114] At the outlet portion of the device for feeding the band-like
reinforced element and between said cutting member and the service
platform there is preferably a U-shaped guide to keep a tail portion of
the band-like reinforced element guided.

[0115] The cutting member is preferably arranged at the outlet portion of
the device for feeding the band-like reinforced element and comprises a
disc-shaped blade, a support structure of the blade and an abutment body
of the blade arranged in the outlet portion of the device for feeding the
band-like reinforced element on the opposite side to the blade with
respect to a feeding plane of the band-like reinforced element.

[0116] Preferably, the blade is mounted idly on the support structure.

[0117] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the support
structure of the blade is able to rotate around an axis perpendicular to
the feeding plane of the band-like reinforced element, so as to be able
to set different cutting angles.

[0118] Preferably, the support structure of the blade is slidingly mounted
on opposite linear guides extending parallel to the feeding plane of the
band-like reinforced element. Advantageously, the cutting of the
band-like reinforced element is carried out by moving the support
structure of the blade, and therefore the blade itself, towards the
band-like reinforced element arranged on the outlet portion of the
feeding device, such a movement being carried out along a direction
corresponding to the set cutting angle.

[0119] The blade is preferably mounted on the support structure by the
interposition of at least one elastic element adapted to push the blade
against said abutment body. Such an elastic element ensures the contact
of the blade with the abutment body, avoiding collisions that could
damage the blade.

[0120] Preferably, the abutment body comprises a groove for housing a
radially external annular portion of the blade. Advantageously, such a
groove allows the blade to cross the band-like reinforced element from
one side to the other, thus allowing a clean and complete cut to be
carried out.

[0121] More preferably, the abutment body comprises a guiding portion for
the blade, defined by a conical surface portion. Advantageously, such a
conical portion makes the contact between blade and abutment body easy
and gradual when the blade is moved towards the band-like reinforced
element to carry out the cutting thereof.

[0122] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device
for depositing the band-like reinforced element comprises at least one
depositing roller having a rotational axis parallel to the service
platform, said at least one depositing roller being moveable along a
direction perpendicular to the service platform, so as to press the
band-like reinforced element on the side surface of the filling insert of
the annular anchoring structure deposited on the service platform.

[0123] Preferably, a plurality of depositing rollers having respective
rotational axes that are parallel to one another are provided. More
preferably, such rollers can be moved independently from one another in
the direction perpendicular to the service platform, so as to always
ensure a constant pressure for all of the aforementioned width as the
width of the band-like reinforced element and the cutting angle vary.

[0124] Preferably, each roller comprises a grooved radially outer surface.
Advantageously, the provision of a grooved surface ensures that the
roller exerts a hammering-type action on the band-like reinforced
element. Such hammering is advantageous because it avoids that undesired
sliding of the roller and/or spreading of the band-like reinforced
element occur, which could cause misalignments of the band-like
reinforced element with respect to the filling insert.

[0125] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a member for
depositing an element made of elastomer material onto a side surface of
the band-like reinforced element is provided.

[0126] Preferably, said depositing member comprises a plurality of rollers
arranged one after the other along a movement direction of the band-like
reinforced element for depositing said element made of elastomer material
astride the side surface of the band-like reinforced element, wherein at
least some of the respective rotational axes askew with respect to each
other.

[0127] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention
will become clearer from the following detailed description of some
preferred embodiments of an apparatus and of a process in accordance with
the present invention, made with reference to the attached drawings. In
such drawings:

[0128] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus in
accordance with the present invention, in an operative step of the
process of the present invention;

[0129] FIG. 2 is a schematic section view of a constructive detail of the
apparatus of FIG. 1, in an operative step of the process of the present
invention;

[0130] FIG. 3 is a schematic section view of a further constructive detail
of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operative step of the process of the
present invention;

[0131] FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the lines I-I of FIG. 3;

[0132] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a part of the constructive detail of FIG.
3;

[0133] FIG. 6 is a section view taken along the lines II-II of FIG. 5;

[0134] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective and simplified view of the detail
of FIG. 2 in a first operative step of the process of the present
invention;

[0135] FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic plan view of the detail of FIG. 2
in a second operative step of the process of the present invention;

[0136] FIG. 9 is a section view taken along the lines III-III of FIG. 7;

[0137] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a further detail of the
apparatus of the present invention, in an operative step of the process
of the present invention;

[0138] FIGS. 10a-10e schematically show simplified views of the detail of
FIG. 10 in five successive operative steps.

[0139] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 globally indicates an exemplifying
embodiment of an apparatus for depositing an annular reinforcing element
5 (FIG. 9) on an annular anchoring structure 10 of a tyre for vehicle
wheels, so as to make reinforced annular anchoring structures 15. The
apparatus 100 allows a depositing process in accordance with the present
invention to be carried out.

[0140] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the annular anchoring structure
10 comprises a substantially circumferential annular insert 11, also
known as bead core, and a filling insert 12 associated to the
substantially circumferential annular insert 11 in a radially outer
position thereof.

[0141] By the apparatus 100 and the depositing process of the present
invention, the annular reinforcing element 5 is associated to a side
surface 12a of the filling element 12 of the annular anchoring structure
10 (FIG. 9).

[0142] FIG. 9 shows the annular reinforcing element 5 deposited on the
entire radial extension of the side surface 12a of the filling insert 12
and extending cantilevered from such a surface 12a. Nevertheless, cases
are foreseen in which the annular reinforcing element 5 is deposited,
optionally cantilevered, on a radially outer (or inner) portion of the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 without involving the radially
inner (or outer) portion of the filling insert 12. Cases are also
foreseen in which the annular reinforcing element 5 is deposited over the
entire radial extension of the side surface of the filling insert 12
(like in FIG. 9), without however projecting cantilevered from it. In any
case, the annular reinforcing element 5 is arranged in a radially outer
position with respect to the substantially circumferential annular insert
11 of the annular anchoring structure 10. In other words, the annular
reinforcing element 5 does not involve the side surface 11a of the
substantially circumferential annular insert 11.

[0143] The reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 are intended to be
used in the building of a carcass structure of the tyre, in a totally
analogous manner to how the annular anchoring structures 10 are
conventionally used. The reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 are
thus positioned in the beads of the tyre and are intended to keep the
tyre firmly fixed to the anchoring seat specifically provided in the rim
of the wheel of the vehicle.

[0144] The building of the carcass structure of the tyre comprises the
initial step of depositing a carcass ply on a forming support so that the
opposite end edges of the carcass ply project cantilevered from the
forming support. Then each reinforced annular anchoring structure 15 is
associated to each of the opposite end edges of the carcass ply.

[0145] In the specific example illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus 100
comprises a member 101 for storing annular anchoring structures 10 (in
FIG. 1 three annular anchoring structures 10 are shown positioned on the
member 101, one of which being partially in section), a member 102 for
storing reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 (in FIG. 1 three
reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 are illustrated positioned on
the member 102, one of them being partially in section) and a member 103
also for storing annular anchoring structures 10 (in FIG. 1 six annular
anchoring structures 10 are illustrated positioned on the member 103).
The aforementioned storing members are part of a moving line (generically
indicated in FIG. 1 with the arrow L) and the member 103 is arranged
along such a line upstream the member 102, so as to take the place of the
latter once all the annular anchoring structures provided on the member
102 have been picked up, thus guaranteeing the continuity of production
of the reinforced annular anchoring structures 15.

[0146] Each storage member has substantially the shape of a cylindrical
drum provided with longitudinal grooves 104 adapted to allow the annular
anchoring structures 10 to be gripped at the radially inner surface of
the substantially circumferential annular insert 11. The aforementioned
grooves also allow the reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 to be
released onto the storage member 102. The storage members can
nevertheless be of a different type to the one described above; for
example, they can be provided in the form of baskets inside which the
annular anchoring structures 10 or the reinforced annular anchoring
structures 15 are stacked.

[0147] The apparatus 100 comprises, in a position adjacent to the storing
members 101, 102, 103, a service platform 105 (illustrated in section in
FIG. 2) having an operative surface 105a (the upper surface, in the
attached figures) with a circular shape adapted to receive the annular
anchoring structure 10 onto which the annular reinforcing element 5 must
be deposited.

[0148] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the service platform 105 is
rigidly associated to a shaft 106 which in turn is mounted, through the
interposition of a plurality of rolling bearings 107, on an upright 108
fixedly connected to a base plate 109.

[0149] The shaft 106 can be moved in rotation, with controlled speed and
acceleration, around an axis X-X. Such a rotation is controlled by a gear
motor 110 through a belt transmission system 111. Such a system comprises
a toothed belt 112 that engages with a toothed wheel 113 fitted onto the
drive shaft 110a of the gear motor 110 and with a toothed wheel 114
fitted onto the shaft 106 which supports the service platform 105.

[0150] With reference to FIG. 2, a device 120 for centring the annular
anchoring structure 10 acts on the service platform 105. Such a centring
device 120 comprises a plurality of arms 121 (also visible in FIG. 1,
where, for the sake of clarity of illustration the reference numeral 121
is not indicated, and in FIGS. 7 and 8) that are equally spaced apart in
the circumferential direction with respect to the rotational axis X-X of
the service platform 105 and able to be moved radially in a synchronous
manner. Each arm is substantially Z-shaped and is slidingly mounted, at a
lower end portion thereof, on a respective rail 122 associated to a deck
123 of the service platform 105.

[0151] As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, each arm 121, at an upper end
portion, comprises a conical surface portion 124 facing the upper surface
105a of the service platform 105.

[0152] The service platform 105 in turn comprises a plurality of through
slots 125. Such slots are equally spaced apart in the circumferential
direction and are oriented radially with respect to the rotational axis
X-X of the platform 105. Each arm 121 crosses the service platform 105
from one side to the other at a respective slot 125 and can thus slide in
the radial direction inside it.

[0153] With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 further comprises a
device 130 for loading the annular anchoring structure 10 onto the
service platform 105 and for unloading the reinforced annular anchoring
structure 15 from the service platform 105. In particular, the device 130
comprises a first motorised arm 131 which can be moved between the member
101 for storing the annular anchoring structures 10 and the service
platform 105 to take the annular anchoring structure 10 from the storage
member 101 and load it onto the service platform 105. The device 130 also
comprises a second motorised arm 135 that is mobile between the service
platform 105 and the member 102 for storing the reinforced annular
anchoring structures 15 to unload the reinforced annular anchoring
structure 15 from the service platform 105 and put it on the storage
member 102. The movement of the first motorised arm 131 is indicated in
FIG. 1 by the broken line alongside the arrow A, whereas the movement of
the second motorised arm 135 is indicated in FIG. 1 by the broken line
alongside the arrow B.

[0154] The motorised arm 131 is able to rotate around a rotational axis
Y-Y parallel to the rotational axis of the service platform 105 and, at a
free end thereof, comprises a member 132 for catching the annular
anchoring structure 10. Similarly, the motorised arm 135 is able to
rotate around the aforementioned rotational axis Y-Y and, at a free end
thereof, comprises a member 136 for catching the reinforced annular
anchoring structure 15.

[0155] The catching members 132 and 136 are identical. For the sake of
simplicity of description and clarity of illustration, hereafter we shall
therefore describe just one of them (in particular the catching member
136), whereas it is understood that the elements described below with
reference to such a catching member are also provided in the catching
member 132. Therefore, what is stated below with reference to the
catching member 136 is also valid for the catching member 132.

[0156] The catching member 136 is able to rotate with respect to an axis
of longitudinal extension E of the motorised arm 135 and it is linearly
mobile in both ways along a direction perpendicular to said axis E (such
a direction is indicated in FIG. 1 with the arrow P). The catching member
136 comprises a plurality of centring arms 137 that are equally spaced
apart in the circumferential direction with respect to a central axis C
of the catching member 136 and able to be moved radially, in a
synchronous manner, with respect to the aforementioned axis C. Such a
radial movement allows the reinforced annular anchoring structure 15 to
be caught and released.

[0157] The annular reinforcing element 5 to be deposited on the side
surface 12a of the filling insert 12 of the annular anchoring structure
10 is obtained by cutting to size a band-like reinforced element 50 which
has been previously collected on a reel 51. During actuation of the
process of the present invention, the band-like reinforced element 50,
which is associated to a service fabric, is unwound from such a reel 51.
Thanks to the interaction provided by a first contrast roller 54, the
service fabric leaves the band-like reinforced element 50 and is
collected on a first winding roller 55. Thereafter, the band-like
reinforced element 50, deviated by a first deviating roller 52 and by a
second deviating roller 53, is suitably fed onto the upper surface 105a
of the service platform 105 through a suitable feeding device 140 (FIG.
1).

[0158] The reel 51, the deviating rollers 52 and 53, the first contrast
roller 54 and the first winding roller 55 are preferably housed inside a
support frame 20 arranged in a position adjacent to the service platform
105.

[0159] Downstream the second deviating roller 53, the feeding device 140
comprises an outlet portion 145 supported cantilevered by the frame 20
and suitably oriented towards the upper surface 105a of the service
platform 105.

[0160] As can be more clearly seen in FIG. 3, the outlet portion 145 of
the feeding device 140 comprises a metallic structure 146 extending along
a feeding direction that is tilted by a preset angle β with respect
to the service platform. Such a direction is indicated with the arrow G
in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

[0161] A plurality of rollers 147 having axes parallel to one another are
mounted on the metallic structure 146; such axes are oriented
perpendicularly to the feeding direction G. The rollers 147 define a
support surface for the band-like reinforced element 50 and, therefore, a
feeding plane of the band-like reinforced element 50. The rollers 147 are
aligned along two rows parallel to the feeding direction G, as shown in
the section of FIG. 6.

[0162] Again with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, above each roller 147 a
respective roller 148 is provided, the rotational axis of which is
oriented parallel to that of the roller 147. The rollers 148 are thus
also arranged along two rows parallel to the feeding direction G and act
upon the upper surface of the band-like reinforced element 50 being fed
towards the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105. The rollers
148 have a shorter axial extension than that of the rollers 147 (FIG. 6).

[0163] A plurality of rollers 149 are also mounted arranged on the
metallic structure 146 with axes perpendicular to the axes of the rollers
147 and 148. The rollers 149 are provided at each row of rollers 147 and
148 between two consecutive rollers 147 and 148 and they act as lateral
containment guides for the band-like reinforced element 50 during its
feeding thereof towards the upper surface 105a of the service platform
105.

[0164] Preferably, the frame 20, and thus the outlet portion 145 of the
feeding device 140, can be moved along a direction perpendicular to the
feeding direction G, so as to be able to adjust the position of the
feeding device 140 with respect to the service platform 105 as the
diameter of the annular anchoring structure 10 on which the band-like
reinforced element 50 must be deposited varies.

[0165] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the outlet portion 145 of the
feeding device 140 further comprises, at the outer side surface of the
band-like reinforced element 50 (with reference to the rotational axis
X-X of the service platform 105) and downstream the metallic structure
146 along the feeding direction G, a U-shaped guide 150. The guide 150
acts upon the outer side surface of the band-like reinforced element 50
during its feeding towards the upper surface 105a of the service platform
105 starting from a head portion 50a of the band-like reinforced element
50 (FIGS. 7 and 8), but above all it carries out its guide function after
the band-like reinforced element 50 has been cut, to keep a tail portion
50b (FIGS. 7 and 8) of the band-like reinforced element 50 guided towards
the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105. FIG. 7 shows an
intermediate step of the deposition of the band-like reinforced element
50, in which the band-like reinforced element has already been cut and
the platform is about to complete a turn. FIG. 8 shows a final step of
the deposition of the band-like reinforced element 50, in which a part of
the tail portion 50b overlaps a part of the head portion 50a so as to
join such portions, thus obtaining the annular reinforcing element 5.

[0166] The feeding of the band-like reinforced element 50 towards the
service platform 105 is carried out by means of a device 160 for
capturing and moving the band-like reinforced element 50 along the
feeding direction G.

[0167] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures (see in
particular FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6) such a device 160 comprises at least one
pair of suction cups 161 which can to be moved along the feeding
direction G. As can clearly be seen in FIG. 6, the suction cups slide
between the two rows of rollers 148. The movement of the suction cups 161
causes the band-like reinforced element 50 to unwind from the reel 51
and, therefore, causes the feeding of the band-like reinforced element 50
onto the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105.

[0168] As an alternative to the suction cups intake members or, in the
case in which the annular reinforcing element comprises metallic cords,
an electromagnet device can be used, all of which are of the conventional
type.

[0169] The apparatus 100 of the present invention further comprises a
member 170 for cutting the band-like reinforced element 50. The cutting
member 170 is arranged at the outlet portion 145 of the device 140 for
feeding the band-like reinforced element 50, upstream the U-shaped guide
150.

[0170] As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cutting member 170
comprises a disc-shaped blade 171 mounted idle on a fork 172 which in
turn is mounted on a support structure 173 through the interposition of a
spring 174.

[0171] The cutting member 170 further comprises an abutment body 175 for
the blade 171. The abutment body 175 is arranged in the outlet portion
145 of the feeding device 140 on the opposite side to the blade 171 with
respect to the feeding plane of the band-like reinforced element 50
(therefore, between two consecutive rollers 147). The spring 174, in rest
condition, pushes the blade 171 against the abutment body 175.

[0172] The abutment body 175 comprises a groove 176 for housing a radially
outer annular portion of the blade 171 during cutting. The abutment body
175 also comprises, as shown in FIG. 4, a conical surface portion 177
that defines a guiding portion adapted to make the contact between blade
171 and abutment body 175 easier and gradual when the blade 171 is moved
towards the band-like reinforced element 5 in order to cut it.

[0173] The support structure 173 of the blade 171 is slidingly mounted on
opposite linear guides 178 extending parallel to the feeding plane of the
band-like reinforced element 50. The support structure 173 of the blade
171 is also able to rotate around an axis T perpendicular to the feeding
plane of the band-like reinforced element 50, so as to be able to set
different cutting angles.

[0174] The apparatus 100 of the present invention further comprises,
downstream the guide 150, a device 180 for depositing the band-like
reinforced element 50 on the side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 of
the annular anchoring structure 10. Such a device can be seen in FIGS. 1,
3 and 5.

[0175] The device 180 preferably comprises a plurality of depositing
rollers 181 arranged with the respective rotational axes parallel to one
another, such axes being parallel to the upper surface 105a of the
service platform 105 and perpendicular to the feeding direction G. Each
roller 181 can be moved independently from the others along a direction R
perpendicular to the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105, so
as to press the band-like reinforced element 50 on the side surface 12a
of the filling insert 12.

[0177] Upstream the outlet portion 145 of the feeding device 140 the
apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a member 190 for
depositing an element made of elastomer material 60 on an outer side
surface (with respect to the service platform 105) of the band-like
reinforced element 50. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the member 190 is
arranged between the deviating rollers 52 and 53 of the feeding device
140.

[0178] The element made of elastomer material 60, which is associated to a
service fabric, is collected in a reel 61 housed in the support frame 20.
Thanks to the interaction provided by a second contrast roller 64, the
service fabric leaves the element made of elastomer material 60 and is
collected on a second winding roller 65. Thereafter, the element made of
elastomer material 60 unwound from the aforementioned reel 61, is
deviated by the deviating roller 52 and, through the member 190, is
preferably positioned on the outer side surface of the band-like
reinforced element (FIG. 1),

[0179] In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 100, the element made
of elastomer material 60 is arranged astride the outer side surface of
the band-like reinforcing element 50 so as to take up the configuration
illustrated in FIG. 9. Alternatively, the element made of elastomer
material 60 can be arranged cantilevered on the outer Aide surface of the
band-like reinforced element 50.

[0180] With reference to FIG. 10, the device 190 comprises a plurality of
rollers (five in the illustrated embodiment, indicated with 191-195)
arranged one after the other along the movement direction M of the
band-like reinforced element 50; at least some of such rollers have the
rotational axis askew with respect to the rotational axis of at least
some of the other rollers.

[0181] In particular, with reference also to FIGS. 10a-10e, the rotational
axis of the second roller 192 is parallel to that of the first roller
191, but it is arranged at a lower height with respect to the axis of the
roller 191 with reference to the moving plane of the band-like reinforced
element 50. The rotational axis of the third roller 193 is askew with
respect to that of the rollers 191 and 192. The rotational axis of the
fourth roller 194 is askew with respect to that of the rollers 191-193;
in particular, it is tilted on the opposite side to the axis of the
roller 192 with respect to the moving plane of the band-like reinforced
element 50. The rotational axis of the fifth roller 195 is parallel to
that of the rollers 191 and 192, but it is arranged on the opposite side
to the roller 191 with respect to the moving plane of the band-like
reinforced element 50.

[0182] The particular arrangement of the rollers 191-195 allows the
element made of elastomer material 60 to be deposited astride the outer
side surface of the band-like reinforced element 50 while the latter is
fed towards the service platform 105.

[0183] With reference at first to FIG. 1, it shall now described a
preferred embodiment of the process for depositing the band-like
reinforced element 50 on the side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 of
an annular anchoring structure 10, so as to form a reinforced annular
anchoring structure 15 having an annular reinforcing element 5 associated
to the side surface 12a of the filling insert 12. Such a process can be
carried out through the apparatus 100 of deposition described above.

[0184] In a first step of the process, the annular anchoring structure 10
is picked up from the storage member 101 and loaded onto the upper
surface 105a of the service platform 105.

[0185] In this step, the motorised arm 131 is brought close to the storage
member 101 and the catching member 132 is actuated so as to pick up an
annular anchoring structure 10. The picking up of the annular anchoring
structure 10 takes place at the radially innermost surface thereof by
means of the radial expansion of the arms 137.

[0186] The motorised arm 131 is then brought close to the service platform
105. During such movement, the annular anchoring structure 10 is centred
on the catching member 132; such a centring is obtained by moving the
centring arms 137 radially in a synchronous manner. Moreover, the
catching member 132 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the
motorised arm 131. When the catching member is above the service platform
105, it is lowered towards the upper surface 105a of the latter and the
annular anchoring structure 10 is released onto the aforementioned
surface, positioning it coaxially to the rotational axis X-X. The release
of the annular anchoring structure 10 is obtained by synchronously
retracting the arms 137 of the catching member 132.

[0187] The motorised arm 131, once the annular anchoring structure 10 has
been left on the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105, is moved
towards the storage member 101, so as to be ready to pick up a further
annular anchoring structure 10.

[0188] Meanwhile a step of centring and locking in position the annular
anchoring structure 10 on the upper surface 105a of the service platform
105 is carried out. In such a step the centring elements 121 move
radially in a synchronous manner in the slots 125 of the service platform
105, acting upon the radially inner surface of the annular anchoring
structure 10.

[0189] At this point the feeding of the band-like reinforced element 50
towards the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105 can begin.

[0190] The head portion 50a of the band-like reinforced element 50 is
captured by the suction cups 161 that, moving forward along the feeding
direction G, bring it to a predetermined annular portion of the side
surface 12a of the filling insert 12 of the annular anchoring structure
10 positioned on the upper surface 105a of the service platform 105.

[0191] The unwinding of the band-like reinforced element 50 from the reel
51 is caused by the movement of the band-like reinforced element 50
towards the service platform 105.

[0192] Preferably, the head portion 50a of the band-like reinforced
element 50 is obtained by cutting in advance the band-like reinforced
element 50 with a preset cutting angle, to form a head vertex V (FIG. 5)
at the inner side surface of the band-like reinforced element 50. The
band-like reinforced element 50 is then moved by the suction cups 161
towards the service platform 105 until the vertex V is brought onto an
angular portion of the annular portion of side surface 12a of the filling
insert 12. The tilting angle of the outlet portion 145 of the feeding
device 140, and thus of the feeding direction G, is selected so that the
aforementioned vertex V makes contact with the upper surface 105a of the
service platform 105 at a section S of the service platform 105 (FIG. 5)
defined by the intersection of the feeding direction G with a pointing
plane containing the rotational axis X-X of the service platform 105.

[0193] In its movement towards the service platform 105 the band-like
reinforced element 50 is supported at the bottom by the rollers 147,
guided at the top by the rollers 148 and at the side by the rollers 149.

[0194] The head portion 50a of the band-like reinforced element, once the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 has been reached, is pressed on
such a side surface 12a by the depositing rollers 181. Such pressing
action causes a sticking of the head portion 50a onto the side surface
12a.

[0195] At this point the service platform 105 is moved in rotation around
the axis X-X. By means of the aforementioned sticking, the band-like
reinforced element 50 is forced to following the rotation of the annular
anchoring structure 10; thus the deposition of successive portions of
band-like reinforced element 50 onto adjacent angular portions of the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 takes place.

[0196] The width of the band-like reinforced element 50 creates a
difference in extension between inner side surface and outer side surface
thereof, which causes a uniform angular deformation of the band-like
reinforced element 50. At the radially inner portion thereof, the
band-like reinforced element 50 undergoes a minimal or zero angular
deformation. The radially outermost annular portion of the band-like
reinforced element 50, on the other hand, undergoes an angular
deformation that is completely absorbed by the annular portion of the
reinforcing element that projects cantilevered from the filling insert
12.

[0197] The service platform 105 is made to rotate by a preset angle
α, which is preferably between 270° and 360° (FIG.
7). Once such an angle has been reached, the rotation of the service
platform 105 is stopped and the band-like reinforced element 50 is cut,
thus obtaining a piece of band-like reinforced element 50 that, for a
great part of the longitudinal extension thereof is associated to the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 and that has a tail portion 50b
not yet deposited on the side surface 12a.

[0198] When cutting is complete, the service platform 105 is put again in
rotation at least until a complete turn is made. During such a rotation
the tail portion 50b of the band-like reinforced element 50 is guided by
the guide 150 and deposited on the side surface 12a of the filling insert
12.

[0199] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 8, it is ensured that the piece of
band-like reinforced element 50 deposited on the side surface 12a of the
filling insert has an annular extension greater than 360°, so as
to overlap a part of the tail portion 50b over a part of the head portion
50a and thus joining the tail portion 50b with the head portion 50a. In
FIG. 8, the overlapping area between tail portion 50b and head portion
50a is indicated with 50c. In this way a reinforced annular anchoring
structure 15 having an annular reinforcing element 5 associated on the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 is obtained.

[0200] As an alternative to the process described above wherein the
cutting of the reinforcing element is carried out after a large part of
the band-like reinforced element 50 has been deposited on the side
surface 12a of the filling insert 12, it is possible to foresee a process
in which the band-like reinforced element 50 is cut to size before being
fed towards the service platform 105. In this case, the deposition of the
band-like reinforced element 50 on the side surface 12a of the filling
insert 12 takes place continuously while the service platform 105 rotates
by an angle at least equal to 360°.

[0201] During the entire step of feeding the band-like reinforced element
50 on the service platform 105, the member 190 applies the element made
of elastomer material 60 astride the outer side surface of the band-like
reinforced element 50, as illustrated in FIG. 10 and in FIGS. 10a-10e. In
practice, the rollers 191-195, acting one after the other on the element
made of elastomer material 60 during the movement of the band-like
reinforced element 50, fold the element made of elastomer material 60 on
the outer side surface of the band-like reinforced element 50.

[0202] The unwinding of the element made of elastomer material 60 from the
reel 61 is caused by the aforementioned moving of the band-like
reinforced element 50 towards the service platform 105.

[0203] Once the deposition of the band-like reinforced element 50 on the
side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 has been completed, the
reinforced annular anchoring structure 15 is picked up from the service
platform 105 and moved onto the storage member 102.

[0204] In this step, the motorised arm 135 is brought also to the service
platform 105 and the catching member 136 is actuated so as to pick up a
reinforced annular anchoring structure 15. The picking up of the
reinforced annular anchoring structure 15 takes place at the radially
innermost surface thereof by means of the radial expansion of the arms
137.

[0205] The motorised arm 135 is then moved until it is positioned at the
storage member 102. During such a movement, the catching member 136 is
rotated around the longitudinal axis of the motorised arm 135. When the
catching member 136 is positioned in front of the storage member 102 (as
illustrated in FIG. 1), it is moved along the direction P and the
reinforced annular anchoring structure 15 is released onto the storage
member 102. The release of the reinforced annular anchoring structure 15
is obtained by synchronously retracting the arms 137 of the catching
member 136.

[0206] The motorised arm 135, once the reinforced annular anchoring
structure 15 has been left on the storage member 102, is moved towards
the service platform 105, so as to be ready to pick up a further
reinforced annular anchoring structure 15.

[0207] The process described above can be repeated a preset number of
times to form, from a plurality of annular anchoring structures, a
corresponding plurality of reinforced annular anchoring structures 15 to
be used in subsequent processes for building carcass structures for tyres
for vehicle wheels.

[0208] From the above description, it is clear how the process and the
apparatus described above, carrying out a deposition of the annular
reinforcing element on the side surface 12a of the filling insert 12 of
the annular anchoring structure, allow high-quality tyres to be
manufactured, in which the annular reinforcement elements to be provided
at the beads of the tyre, being associated to the annular anchoring
structure, maintain the shape and position that were preset at the design
stage.

[0209] Of course, a man skilled in the art can bring further modifications
and variants to the invention described above in order to satisfy
specific and contingent application requirements, these variants and
modifications in any case being within the scope of protection as defined
by the following claims.

Patent applications by Gianni Mancini, Milano IT

Patent applications by Luca Merlo, Milano IT

Patent applications by Maurizio Marchini, Milano IT

Patent applications in class Building tires directly from strands or cords

Patent applications in all subclasses Building tires directly from strands or cords